Marhams Tankers

This book documents the history of Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) at RAF Marham, from the early days
of the Vickers Valiant tankers of No. 214 Sqn’s record-breaking flights, to the Handley-Page Victor K.1
and K.2 tankers becoming a Force Multiplier for the Far East reinforcements and the Falklands and Gulf
wars. It contains both official and personal accounts and photographs of the periods. The Valiant and
the Victor are two of the three original V-Bombers that formed Britain’s nuclear deterrent. Some of
each of these fleets were converted to tankers and operated alongside their nuclear-armed
colleagues. For the Valiant, that was until 1965 when the fleet was grounded because of metal
fatigue. The Victor K.1, as a tanker, served alongside the nuclear-armed B.2 and photo-reconnaissance
SR.2 Victor K.2s until the nuclear role was discontinued. Then some of the K.2 fleet were then
converted into tankers and the K.1 was retired. It was the longest-serving aircraft of the three ‘Vs’,
from its first flight in 1952 to its last flight in 1993. The authors are both former 55 Sqn Crew Chiefs
who served together during Operation Corporate, the Falklands War.

Signed!